Call: Research
into optimized and future railway infrastructure

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme with nearly 80
billion € of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020). Apart from classic research projects, Horizon 2020 also funds
innovation projects and pilot-projects in different fields.

Shift2Rail fosters the introduction of better trains to the market, which operate on an innovative rail network infrastructure
at a lower life-cycle cost, with more capacity to cope with growing passenger and freight mobility demand. All this are developed
by European companies, thereby increasing their competitiveness in the global marketplace. Shift2Rail also contributes to
the paradigm for the modal shift to attract users to rail. For EU passengers, this represents more travel options, more comfort
and improved punctuality. For freight forwarder/shippers, rail freight offers a more cost-effective, punctual and traceable
shipment option.Shift2Rail contributes to:

Cutting the life-cycle cost of railway transports by as much as
50%

Doubling railway capacity

Increasing reliability and punctuality by as much as 50%

Call

Research
into optimized and future railway infrastructure

Description of call"Research
into optimized and future railway infrastructure"

Railway infrastructure is facing a challenge due to the increasing
rail transport demand and the growing effects of climate change. Thus, this call focuses on enhancing, optimizing and developing
switches and crossings as well as track systems including drainage management, in order to ensure optimal line usage and capacity.
Furthermore, this call also includes research on extending the life of bridges and tunnel assets focusing on proactive maintenance
and operation. Proposals should address all of the work streams described in the S2R Work Plan 2018.

This call is restricted to JU Members (founding
and associated), and their affiliated entities. In the case of Members in the form of consortia or groupings of legal entities,
the individual constituent entities of these consortia or groupings, and the affiliated entities of these individual constituent
entities, are eligible to participate in the restricted calls for JU Members.

Project
Partner

Yes

Project Partner Details

Projects must comprise at least
3 partners from at least 3 EU Member States or other eligible countries.